Improvement in shoe-soles



, Shanks. ed se. 800115,' SHOES a.. LEGGINS,

Hees, Cushion, Detachable.

Improvement in Shoe-Soles. NO. 114,145, Patented Aprl25l87l.

.'IoHNj MORRISON HUNTER, orfN'nlw Youn, N. Y.

' Leads Para@ No. 114,145, 1aed April 25, 1 871.

IMPROVEMENT IN snes-sopas.

The Schedule xefened'to in thesel Letters P atent and making pa: of the same.

To al'l'whom 'it may concern i Beitknow'u that I, J onN M ornusoN HUNTER, of' the city and county of New York, State of' New York,

have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Shoe-Soles.

`My improved sole contains shown inv my patentdated J une i6, 1868.

` .The following is a'descri'ption of' whatlccnsider the best means of carrying out the present invention.

The accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification. Y j

Fignre' is a bottom view, by which I :mean a view 'of the face which is'toward the ground.

Figure 2 is atop view, by which 1 mean the face which is uppermostwhen in use. It will be understood that there may be an outer sole exterior tothe tce shownin fig. 1, if' desired, andthat there will always be au inner-sole, with a suitable filling of hair or analogous material, between the face shown vin fig. 2 and the inner sole nearer the foot. l

The drawing represents thenovel parts; theirrela# tion to the. ordinary parts will be very readily understood.

Figures 3, 4,- 5, aud 6 are cross-sections, arranged up and down the side of' fig. 2. Each represents a crosssection ou' a line opposite to where the figure is placed; that is to say, iig. 3 is a cross-section near the broadest part of the ball ofthe foot. Fi". is a crosssection further back, and beginning to show the shanksprings. Fig. 5 is a cross-.section through the main. portion ofthe heel.

Figures 7, 8, and 9 arc cross-sections -on av larger scale. They are about the full size for a maus shoe or boot. Fig. 7 is a cross-siecton through the broadvest part or ball of the foot. Fig. 8 is a cross-section through the shank, and fig. 9 isacentral section across the lower or bearing portion ofthe heel.

Figure l0 is aperspective view of thc points, which perform :tn-important function iu confining my metallic portion fo thcwelt or soft material around the edge aud at other parts of' the sole, The metal is cut in V-s'haped incisionsand the point. is turned up nearly or quite at right angles and passing through th'c material above. A lineof these points extends around all the front part ofthe sole-uotou'the edge, but near the edge.

- The remaining figures show modifications o f certain parts, -which may be preferable in some instances or for some purposes.

. igure 8l is a modification of 'the shank portion, showing the -same geiieialj constructonof the slianjk,

,with st ou'tcanvas orjaialogous fmaterialfolded over the edge and secured b otlilabove and below the vmetal by the: noints nearthe edge, just described.

someA of' thev features, i

just in rear of' the -ball ofthe foot, which aid in secur- Figure 11 shows another modification ofthe means of' making the shank and adjacent portions.. In this the metalis -cnt quite fna'rrow, and the peculiar T' shaped incisions areouiitted. The springs are held in place by cord orv by stitching, as shown. There is also. in this modification aline ctv-shaped incisionsacross ing thc metal tothe adjacent parts.

Figure 12 shows an outer sole,of leather or of some strong and durable-substitute for leather, secured exterior to mymetallic sole by means of' Japan varnish and of my peculiar concave washers and screws. Rivets are used to hold additionalwashers 'to the wearing sole.

`-`Figure 13 is a view looking dow-n upon the foot and showing how .the front portion of' the lin-sole, which4 is not ordinarily covered by the foot, is provided with holes to allow air to be received down through the iusole into` ,the interstices within the hair filling and be ejected again at each movement of` the foot in walking. It forms a slight but very important ventilation ot the shoe by inducing a slight movement of the air alternately inward and outward along the space within the shoe between theshoe and the foot.

Figure 14 shows a heel-shell'struck up in a separate piece and adapted to bc attached by rivet-s to a shank 'I of leather or analogous material.

Similar letters of reference'indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is a piece of' rolled brass,'or other suitable sheerl metal, struck by dies, at one or more operations, into .the form represented, v`corresponding to the contour desired, or according to the prevailing fashion for the 4exterior or outer surface of' the'entre sole and heel. 1

Along a line near thc outer edge of` the entire front portion are cut V-s'hapedscores, andthe angular points l u, thus determined, are heilt upat the same or' a sub# sequent operation of' a pair of' dies'. "lhc points thus raised are'subsequently thrust through and clinched upon another layer or partial layer ofinaterial, vwhich will be presently described.

The' shank is peculiarly provided, to 'give propelstrength, with ahighly-elastic action. The metal herev is cut through, forming T-shaped scores ofl the folm and arrangement.represented by B." 'lhe. metal left remaining between these scores B may be provided lwith one or more points, a, before described,`or it may -be secured all together by stitching through4 holes bv formed near the edge to receive the shoe-thread or other stitching material.-

Fig. 8 shows what I esteem the preferable mode of forming this part. Here the edges ofthe metal arc in'closed'betwe'eu two parts of' a folded strip of' stout.

canvas, which :is secnred'thereon by vtwo sexies of the vplate A.

I' thronghthc holes b.

` metal has'been removed. tending along the entire shank just within the T- 1 shaped scores B. v

` steel wire, as represented. The rear end of these wires may be bent downward nearly or quite at right angles, and is -held'in sockets E riveted upon the front of the loops or small eyes, and -niade to embrace a crossf the sole,'ant l s ec n red by soldering or by simply press' '"foitnedi'n correspondingly-rouud'ed hooks. I propose shank. -Iusuch case the guides G may rise and bend reach over alittle upon the edge of the flat spring.

' as linen.

subjected.

. above, the stitches may pass through'these double en- 'as O.

the edge of the outer envelopecovering said .stitches being cemented `and tucked into the crevice, as depoints @alternatelydheated-upward and downward. Those' which -project up extend thronglr'and'are.

.clnclied l'ipon the-upper half of' the' folded strip O.. '.l'hose which extend downward extend -through' and arc'cliuched-uponthe lowerhalt' ot' the folded strip G. 'lhc folded edge is allowed to 'project enough beyond the metal to allwof being sewn. By this means the 'stitches arenot necessarily located in any particular position, as .would--he necessary in order -to stitchl It will, of course, be understood `that the metal of the 'sole along the s hank, where this position is .in ade', mustbc cnt sutliciently narrow to allow the folded cai'ivas C to extend' over alittle and forni a 'firm holding-piece without projecting beyond the general contour ofthe finished sole.

. '.llre scores -l render the solc'highly' elastic, 1 esteem itimporta'nt to l'oltify the strength after so much of thc To this end I solder or otherwise aix strips A', ex-

lI furthermore provide springs D cxtending along -near the same lines.l They may be formed of round heel-shell.

The ,frontjends of the springs D are formed into I spring, F,-which may b e of 'small round steel wire, held in eyes e, 'riveted or otherwise secured upon the sole- `Alongthe shank arev placed `guides G, which may be passed through and through tie suitable holes in inthe metaldowu tbereon,'or by both these means.

' lWith the' round wire springs- D the guides may be in some instances to use a flat spring cut from ordinary :steel and extending along thecentral line of the lthelfother way from that here represented, so as to 'The function of these guides` Gr is to sustain the springs D or the corresponding springs o 'spring there employed in position, and allow it to contribute its elasticity and strength to the sole without a possibility of-its gettingmisplaced. v.l:[ isI a weltof leather, prepared felt, or other suitable material, project-ing over the edge of the metallic sole A, and firmly -secured by the clincbing-points a, as above. intimated. The stitches for securing the outer sole to the upper portions of the shoe pass through. the overhangngedge of this welt.

I and J are pieces of thin material covering the base ot' the shank and stiffening the cut metal into a single, harmonious, but fiexible andstroiig shank.

The inner envelope I is preferably of woven fabric, n The outer piece J may be thin leather. Split-leather or other ordinary qualities may serve. '.Lhe edges of both are folded over and thewhole of the surfaces are `cemented by Japan varnish or other suitable cementing material which will endure weather and all theconditions to -which boots andA shoesare' \Vhen the edges of the shanlt are sewed to the work velopes I J as well as through the folded'strip of can- Stitches pass through the edge of the inner envelope,

scribed in the attachment of the heel to the upper.'

which is light-and not liable to split.

^ 4.I have-devoted much` attention to the construction Heels, Cushonk Detachable. I M'm 'of the lheel to produce the bestv possible construction with aduc regrrd--to economy.' The interior 'o f ,this

portion of 'the shellA is filled out largely-'with wood,F

There may be two principal modifications of this wrli. In one the wood is perforated with large holes, k, and

the holes are filled with moderately-compressed hair, k', vIn the 'other the lling is solid. My experiments have indicated pear wod as the best for this use; but where this is scarce apple wood or any wood may be employed A small annular' space exists around the block K which receives a piece ofstout canvas, L, which ex tends up above the edge of the metal portion A and forms'. 'a body to sewed. This canvas is firmly nailed to the wood K by small nails before -the 'insertion of either into the shell A. These parts may be also further secured -by Japan or other suitable vars. nish. '1

Outside of the heel portionof theshell A Il secure, by J apanvarnish or other suitable cement, twothicknesses offine woven fabric, R S. The lower edges of both projeot'a little under and are secured upon the bottom of the lheel part of the soleA. 'The upper edges of each extendv above the-'metal A and also above the canvas L. The innermost, R, is folded over the edge of the canvas, and is secured' in that position on the boot o r shoe lby the stitches, notrepresented,V which pass through the canvas. The outermost, S, is left with it-s upper edge loose until the stitchingjust referred' to is completed and the boot is 'nearly finished, whenl it-is slightly varnished and tucked over.

and confined tightly within the crease, which'it helps to -fill, between the upper or vamp and the'sole, as'

will be readily understood by workmen.

I provide very efficiently, by novel means, against the very common difficulty of unequal wearing ofthe heel. The bearing portion is in two principal parts, each capable of being separately revolved or partially revolved under peculiar conditions. The outermost f ring -M is revolved easily, the motion being resisted only by friction. greater' or lesser extent at short intervals either by the finger and thumb or .by a suitable tool, which 1 propose to furnish to purchasers, adapted to firmly clasp on the metal and take hold of' a large surface so aslto act'cfiiciently without abrading anything.

The ringM may be entirely of iron or steel, or its body may be of either of these metals with au outer surface ot brass, nickel, or other more tasty-material. .I propose for ordinary use a ring of malleable ironcasehardened. 'lt isdesirahlc to produce this ,ring' with economy, in large quantities, and to secure as high a degree of hardness as possible.

The inner surface of the ring M is conical. Within this lies a compound part, separately se will designate in the mass bythe single letter N, designating by Nl, N2, Ste., the several partsthcreof' N* is au external ring, made conical andfitting nicely within the conical interior ring M. Y It serves as a means of keeping the filling or inclosed material from spreading against the ring M. Within this ring N is apiece of' substantial leather or ofsomc of the various substitutes therefor. I propose, in ordinary cases, to`employ felted hair united by rubber or by some suitable cement-ing material. It issecured by a central rivet and by several additional rivets' and screws peculiarly mounted, as will presently appear.

The ring M and its interior work do not rest directly against the inwardly-folded edges of the material R S. A continuous sheet or diskot' metal, O,- is interposed, secured, by a rivet, 0', to the ceuterot' thebasc of the heel portion ofthe sole A. The ring M is held and turns between this plate O andthe ringN. g The' ring l and its interior iillingpiece or mainbearingpiece plate of metal, N.

It is' intended to turn this to a;

cured, which I This plate -N holds rivets a, -which reach down 'through the'lling-pieee or body Nand rivet on the, lower side through the agency of the peculiar eoncaye washers N5, which allow for a large amount of wear without destroyingr the washers or the rivet-s received therein.

I esteem it very important that 'the ring M shall.

giver and properly match over the edge of the plate sented on its face, which is broader,` one side of the offset fitting against the vplate N3 and theother against the material O. The ring M is alone presented on the exterior or edge of the heel, and the edge of the plate N3 is entirely concealed.

. I proposein some cases, as, for example, in military shoes, to interpose an outer metal plate correspond ingly 'indented to match to the conical washers N5, and by preference roughened on its outer surface to afford a better hold on ice o'r slippery surfaces generally.

d? are screws sunk into corresponding concave .washers N', and pass through all the several portions of the compound part N, and through holes .not be- -forcdescribed in the metal O A.

The threads of these screws take in the wood part K within the heel.

lhe positions of the holes for these screws are very carefullyl determined by .templets or otherwise, and are' preferably made by machinery in so exactly-determined positions that the entire compound portion N- 'may be shifted around as many times as may be re;

quired and the screws and holes will match in any position.

Now, to compensate for any inequality of the wear on the ring M it is necessary simply toturn it by tak# ing hold ot' it with the hand or with any suitable tool; but to turn the compound heel-piece N itis necessary to remove the three screws P and to turn the piece N exactiya third of its revolution, and then reinsert the screws in their` new positions.

This adjustment may be done as often as may be required; but it is evidently more laborious than the simple turning of the ring M, and will ordinarily be performed with less frequency.

I might have mentioned at an earlier period that the space within the we lt H is iilled with a thickmat or mass of hair, either in its natural condition or slightly cemented together with rubberor other suitable material. This makes a liighlyfelastic bed on which the inner sole, not represented, rests.

By making a series of holes in the toe portion of the inner sole which is not covered by the fo'ot it will follow that the alternate compression and expansion of thehair Q .will cause the air to alternately move inward and outward through the holes'in the inner sole, and thus .induce a-slight'but very important ven- 'tilating effect on the ehtire foot.

At eacb'frise of the foot the space beiow the in-sole expands, and air is drawn down along the side of the vfoot toward the holes in the front of the in sole. -At each tread upon the sole the space below the in-'sole is reduced and air is driven up through the holes and outward alongthe sides of the foot. It may not be necessary to say that the upper portion of my boots and shoes may be of any ordinary or suitable-construction.

My soles are adapted to be used with any size or -style of boot or shoe. It may-be' made light for lardes, or extra stout for miners and 'others employed in rocky situations o r where the soles are, for any reasons, subjected to unusually rough usage.

vI propose to make all sizes, and to provide two sets of dies to make rightsand leits for each size.

I do-n`ot confine myself to any of the precise mate'- I -rials-hre indicated. I have intimated some of the substitutes which may be employed in some cases. It

the large vheads of For this purpose I form it with the offset reprewill be understood that the materials may be varied according to theexpense -which may be involved or the peculiar fashions prevailing, or the tastes4 of the wearer, as also, and obviously,`to the peculiar conditions for whichtheshoe is intended.

stitutes for leather may be used in rthe places where I havedescrihedleather. .I have spoken of the exterior ring M asbeing surfaced with nickel or various'other materials, implying vthat it was done by plating.- It will be ob ious thatwherean exterior surfacing is employe the exterior material may be formed in an entirely separate vshelland seeuredhereto by rivetng,'.soldering, JapanV varnish,- or any ordinary or suitable means.

secured by the use of a part of the improvement without the whole; thus, for example, I can dispense with the peculiarly-eut shank, and may remove vthe metal entirely instead of cutting the scores B. It is necessary in such casemerely to make the folded strip C suiiiciently wider tocoinpensate for theextraordinary vnarrowing of the metal A,

I can make theentre heel-portion 'of the plate A with all its attachments, 'as herein shown, and -united to a shank and lfront soleof 'any ordinary or suitable material. Fig. v14: shows the general means for attaching such a'hel-shell t a shank of leather, cloth. or other suitable material notrepresented. The same kind of conical washersrepresented here .fat the heel may be employed with suitable rivets,

of sawdust ,and glue-water or other suitable composition.

The heel, whether' made by any of lthese plans, may

the inner sole by means of an iron last. lhis may be employed in addition to the sewing at the edge, as before described.'

- When a wooden heel with holes is used, as shownv in iig. 2, it maybe'preferable in some cases tointroduce in the holes a metal spring or other elastic material in place of the hairor wool described.

By vthe conical form of the interior of the ring M I arrest noise and give strength and surface neigt to the leel, where most needed, and with little weight of meta My improved sole maybe applied' by nails instead of stitches,'in which case thefattachment differs from the ordinary nailing only in the fact thatI make use of J apauvarnish with the design 'to so far aid in securing the parts that fewer nails may be required and the sole-not 'made objectonably stiff.

I claim' as my inventionl. The peculiarly-cnt shank AB', having slits or ating with a cross-slit or widening, as shown;

2. The thickened/linesA', produced by soldering or otherwise irmly attaehingstrips ot' additional material, extending` along the shank, as and for the purposes 'speciiieoh `Leather may be used-iu place of the woven fabrics. wherever mentioned, and some or allot' the varioussub- Some of the advantages of my invention may be A screws, or the like to hold the outer sole upony the l is employed, to give ita solid filling with a compound be attached to the upper' by six or other' number oi' long nails, passing through the'heelandbent over on scores'extendinginwardI from the edge, and -terlnin.

3. The spring or springs D and guides G, arrangeff I I relatively to each 'other-'andto the shanl, as specified; n

4. The cross-spring'F, a'1'x"an`gedin front of the shank and serving therewith, as specified. l 5. The sockets E in' thev front of the heel-shell, re-

' ceiving and holding the'fspring or-springs D, and serving in. combination therewith, as lepresented.

lli. The heel-block`K,:wthA holes k filled with hair or analogous softy material, asspeciied.

7, ".lhejireely-revolving metallic ring-M, made conical on its nnersurlace, and; with the offset shown on the upper face matching to the plate N?, 'as shown,

and mounted in al heel and adaptedjto serrethere y W'ith,-'as'an`d forthe purposes specified.

8 .l The exterior ring N ofthe main hearing portion ofthe heel, arranged to serve, as represented, within the revolving ring M, to prevent thespreading of the inner materials against thel same, as specified.-

9. The pint a, cut. from the metaiA within ne line of the edge, and serving relatively to the metal A and to the welt H, as specified.

10. The covering-layers I J, o r either of them, on a exible and `strengthened metallic shank, as specified'.

. 11- The combination ofthe metal shank, made strong and elastic, as shown, with a heel-body of wod or analogous material, canAyinglaheel-disk, N, 'or

" Witnesses:

O. C. LmNGs, A. H-OERMANN. 

